NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is 328,000 miles, or 528,000 kilometers, away from the asteroid Bennu, having fired its engines on May 10 to initiate a return trip to Earth. The spacecraft is on track to deliver an asteroid sample to Earth on September 24, 2023.NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is 328,000 miles, or 528,000 kilometers, away from the asteroid Bennu, having fired its engines on May 10 to initiate a return trip to Earth. The spacecraft is on track to deliver an asteroid sample to Earth on September 24, 2023.4 Jun 2021
Will OSIRIS-REx return to Earth?
After orbiting the Sun twice, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is due to reach Earth Sept. 24, 2023. Upon return, the capsule containing pieces of Bennu will separate from the rest of the spacecraft and enter Earth's atmosphere.
Where is Bennu now?
Asteroid 101955 Bennu (1999 RQ36) is currently in the constellation of Aquarius.
Where is OSIRIS-REx going?
OSIRIS-REx traveled to near-Earth asteroid Bennu and is bringing a small sample back to Earth for study. The mission launched Sept. 8, 2016, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft reached Bennu in 2018 and will return a sample to Earth in 2023.
How long will OSIRIS-REx spend on Bennu?
The OSIRIS-REX mission will spend two years cruising home with space rock samples that could unlock secrets of the early solar system.
Is OSIRIS-REx still working?
Mar 15, 2021 OSIRIS-REx continues operating in the Post-TAG Observation phase, as the spacecraft journeys back to Bennu for the Apr. 7 final flyover. On Mar. 6, the spacecraft successfully executed the second propulsive maneuver of 34 cm/s to adjust course as OSIRIS-REx approaches the asteroid.
How much did the OSIRIS-REx cost?
$588.5 million was spent on spacecraft development and $183.5 million on its launch vehicle. Nine years of prime mission operations are expected to cost approximately $283 million….Cost of OSIRIS-REx.
| Spacecraft Development | $558.5 million |
|---|---|
| Mission Operations (9 years) | $283 million |
| Total | $1.16 billion |
What asteroid will hit Earth?
On average, an asteroid the size of Apophis (370 metres) is expected to impact Earth once in about 80,000 years….99942 Apophis.
| Model of 99942 Apophis's shape, assuming the entire surface is of a similar composition. | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Roy A. Tucker David J. Tholen Fabrizio Bernardi |
Can Bennu destroy Earth?
Lindley Johnson is NASA's planetary defence officer told VOA that a hit from Bennu would not destroy all life on Earth. If it does crash, it may create a crater about 5-10 km wide. Asteroid Bennu is assumed to be about 500 meters wide.
Is OSIRIS-REx a flyby?
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft begins its farewell tour of near-Earth asteroid Bennu. On Wednesday (April 7), the spacecraft ended its final closeup flyby of the asteroid. A spacecraft carrying pristine asteroid samples and 4,000 megabytes of data is about to fly home from the asteroid Bennu.